Compare towns
Middletown vs Berlin vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middletown has the youngest population (median age 38.1).
Berlin has the highest household income ($114k).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Middletown | Berlin | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 47,958Highest |
20,361 |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT |
48.7±3Highest 18% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Berlin and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Berlin and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Berlin and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% CT: 42.5% |
44.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
$113,598±$11kHighest 19% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
$374,600±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,446±$45Highest about the CT average |
$1,402±$88 6% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Middletown and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,412 3% below CT |
$7,291Highest 10% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Berlin and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
21 minLowest 21% below CT |
25 minHighest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
14.4%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Berlin and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #121 of 149 in CT | #73 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Berlin School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Middletown High School | Berlin High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
11.5 |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.